Following the death of Former Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang in April of 1989, people gathered in Tiananmen Square to commemorate Hu and voice their discontents. On June 3, 1989, troops received orders to reclaim Tiananmen Square at all costs. Much of what happened that night is unknown. What is known is that soldiers opened fire that night on people trying to block the army's advance as well as those who were simply shouting at the troops.
Due to a lack of witnesses, the exact number of people killed in this so-called "Tiananmen Square Massacre" is not known. Some say that it was as few as 500 and as many as 3000.



I remember the build up to this, with all the students gathering in Tiananmen Square. There seemed to be a lot of activity and an air that change was going to take place. With so many people taking part. it felt that the government would have to back down and listen to the requests.

I went on holiday on June 2nd that year to Tenerife, I didn't hear or read any news for two weeks. When I came back I couldn't believe it when I was told what had happened, until I saw the film footage that was still being shown on the news. I couldn't understand how any soldier could shoot relentlessly into a crowd of unarmed defenseless people like that, especially when they were their own citizens.

It's shameful how the world has almost turned a blind eye to it and that conditions remain the same in China after all this time.

I was at my father's home in Kentucky during summer break from school when the Tiananmen Square massacre occured. I had been watching the demonstrations on the news for several weeks and I thought that it would all end peacefully, at least that was my naive thought. I suppose the most graphic and unforgettable image from the entire incident would be the video of that lone student, bravely standing in front of an army tank, trying to prevent its passage. Now that's courage.


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I was at my Grandparent house in Colorado Springs when the massacre took place. We were all glued to the television. I was rivited and proud to see that student standing in front of that tank, standing up for something he believed in! How honorable!

I don't remember where I was at. I know I was going to a school I absolutely hated and was upon the last few days. More than likely I was either at school or at home. I didn't know anything about this incident until a few years ago.

At fourteen, I was just beginning to really follow and understand world events, and the Tiananmen Square massacre made a big impression on me. Did it begin on a weekend? I think I was at our lake cottage. (affectionately known to New England residents as "Camp")

It was a few weeks before school let out in eighth grade. I remember coming in from swimming and standing in front of the TV, drying my hair with a Dukes of Hazzard beach towel (all the real prizes end up at camp) and just gaping in horror at what was happening in China. That was a strange summer all around. I wish I could get back into my fourteen-year-old mind and remember what I really thought of it at the time, all I really remember is standing in front of the TV at camp and dripping all over the floor.

I was on vaction in Spain. I remember seeing it on the television in the lobby of the hotel. We had to find someone who could translate the Spanish commentator for us. I do not want to talk politics here. I am angry at countries who do not observe decent human rights. That day was another sad day for the human race.

Similar to the Berlin Wall, I was 12, knew nothing of world politics, and didn't really understand what had happened. I remember our Grade 6 teacher telling us to be thankful we lived in a free country.